The Russian Federation is a state with a federal form of government. The constituent parts of the state, territorial units of the highest level are called subjects of the federation.
Instruction manual
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The Russian Federation includes 85 equal entities. Among them are 46 regions, 22 republics, 9 territories, 4 autonomous districts, 3 cities of federal significance and 1 autonomous region. Subjects have their own legislation approved by the regional parliament. Subjects do not have the right to arbitrarily secede from the Russian Federation.
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Regions are the most numerous territorial units of the highest level. The status of the region is determined by the Constitution and the regional charter. The region as a subject of the Russian Federation has the same legal status as the region. In the early 2000s, changes were made in the federal structure of the Russian Federation, which resulted in the enlargement of regions and their transformation into regions. So, the Perm Territory was formed as a result of the merger of the Perm Region and the Komi-Permyak Autonomous Okrug. Kamchatka Krai - as a result of the merger of the Kamchatka Oblast and the Koryak Autonomous Okrug. Trans-Baikal Territory - as a result of the merger of the Chita Region with the Aginsky Buryat Autonomous District. The Irkutsk region, combined with the Ust-Orda Buryat Autonomous Okrug, has retained its name. At present, there are 46 regions and 9 territories in the Russian Federation.
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Republics, unlike regions and territories, have the right to adopt their own constitutions and establish their own state languages. Republics are a form of statehood of the peoples of Russia. The Russian Federation has 22 republics.
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Autonomous okrugs are formed on a national-territorial basis. They have their own legislation and territory. They can independently participate in international relations. Being independent territorial units, they are simultaneously included in other entities, regions or territories. There are 4 autonomous okrugs in the Russian Federation: Nenets, Khanty-Mansiysk, Chukotsky and Yamalo-Nenets.
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Three cities have the status of cities of federal significance: Moscow, St. Petersburg and Sevastopol. They have their own charter and legislation. Cities of federal destination are not municipalities, municipalities are included in their composition.
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The Russian Federation includes one autonomous region - the Jewish Autonomous Region. Like the autonomous okrugs, the autonomous region is part of another entity - the Khabarovsk Territory. It has the right to legislate within the limits of its competence.
